Gyratory flour sifter



Jan. 8, 1924.

' J. E. RAMSEY GYRATORY FLOUR SIFTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1922Jan. 8 1924 J. E. RAMSEY GYRATORY FLOUR SIFTER I 3 She ets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. '7. 1922 .alll

Jane 8, Y

J. E. RAMSEY GYRATORY FLOUR SlFTfiR Filed Sept. 7. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented "Jan. 8, 1 924.

noon E. RAMSEY, or SPOKANE, wesmive'roiv.

GYRATORY rtounsrrrna.

Application filed September 7, 1922. Serial No. 586,677.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JACOB E. RAMSEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of l/Vashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Gyratory FlourSifter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will l0 enable othersskilled in'the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means forproducing the gyratory movement or vibration of a flour 1 sifter orscreen such as are used in flour mills for the grading of the product,and particularly to provide a device for the purpose indicated wherebysimplicity of mounting and uniformity in operation and result may beattained; and with these objects in view the invention consists in aconstruction, combination and relation of parts of which a preferredembodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 are side and end views and Figure 3 is an inverted planView of a sifter provided with a vibrating mechanism constructed inaccordance with the invention, 7 I

Figure 4 is a detail enlarged vertical sectional view of the vibratingmechanism,

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the oscillatoryweight-member of the ap paratus.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 4, w V

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the lower bearing structure, andFigure 8 is a detail view illustrating the construction and applicationof the weight cushioning element.

The sifter box 10 is provided at its bottom and in the center with abearing 11 for the upper end of a spindle 12 of which the lower end ismounted in a foot bearing 13 of the thrust type consisting of'a cup 14in which are arranged the anti-friction thrust and lateral bearingelements 15 and 16. This foot bearing is connected with the bottom ofthe box by the lateral braces 17 and a longitudi-.

nal brace 18. V

The spindle 12 carries a guide 20 consisting in the illustratedconstruction of a laterally bowed portion or guide loop havingparallelsides 21 between which operates a vibratmg weight 22 havinggrooves 23 in lts upperand lower surfaces to receive the arms of theguide loop. These arms are preferably provided with webs 23 which may 0either be let into the arms or formed in- =tegral therewith, the formerconstruction being llustrated, and the inner and lower end of the weightbeing recessed as indi-' cated at'23 for the reception of a retainingelement 24 of looped form attached to the spindle. This constructionpermits of the return of the weight when the. apparatus is not inoperation to a position with its cen ter of gravity but slightly offsetfrom the IQ axis of rotation of the sifter box. Mounted in the bottom ofthe weight and withinthe guide groove thereof, for contact with theguide upon which the weight slides are'antifrictional bearing rollers25, and mounted at opposite sides of the up er groove for contact withthe side sur aces of the upper guide represented by the upper side ofthe loop 20 are the axially upright anti-frictional'rollers 26 tominimize the frictional resistance offered to the outward movement ofthe weight in its guide due to centrifugal action. The guide asindicated is inclined upwardly at an angle toward its outer end so thatwhen the rotation of the spindle, which may be effected by any suitablemeans and power conveyed thereto for example through the driv pulley 27,is checked, the weight willreturn to the neutral or approximately.central position indicated in Figure 1. As the spindle is rotated theweight moves outwardly'to 'a greater or less extent depending upon thespeed of movement or rate of rotation, and this outward movement islimited by a sto pin 28 threaded or other wiseadjustablyfitted'in asocket 29 :in the outer end of the weight for terminal contact with theend of the looped guide. Also cushioning spring 30 is carried by thelimit-Q ing element 24 to contact with the weight 22 to break theshockupon the apparatus inci-' dent to return of the weight to its neutralposition. Spring 30 is arcuate and fastened in place by a'bolt 30passing and slidable through an enlarged or swelled portion 30? ofelement 24. Motion may be communicated to the pulley .27 by means of abelt- 31 or the equivalent thereof;

Furthermore transverse bolts 32 are pref erably carried by the weight22, to provide 2 I 1 ,4so,4e5

for the attachment of auxiliary or supplemental weights such asrelatively thin disks 32 when required, said bolts in the constructionillustrated being arranged to extend laterally from the weight 22 nearthe inner and outer ends thereof, and have nuts 32 to fasten disks 3i inplace.

Having thus fully described the invention, what- I claim is Incombination with a sitter box, a vibrating apparatus having a revolublespindle arranged in substantially perpendicular relation with and seatedat one end upon the bottom of the box, a foot bearing for the other endof said shaft, said foot bearing connected by braces with the bottom ofthe box, an eccentric weight carried by said spindle, the spindle beingprovided with a looped offset forming a radial guide which is inclinedupward toward its outer end for directing the movement of the Weighttoward and from the axis of rotation, the splndle being provided with alooped retaining member for limiting the inward move-.

member and recess cooperating to permit said weight to project to bothsides of the axis of rotation when said weight is in normal position,and a cushioning spring carried by said looped retaining member andadapted to contact with the weight when in normal position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB E. RAMSEY. Witnesses:

EMMA .G. WADE, Gno. C. WVADE.

